There are dozens of prophets mentioned in the Old Testament. Some are credited with writing whole books. Moses was the first and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He is credited with writing (or at least compiling) the first five books of the bible and probably the book of Job. Other great prophets like Elijah, Elisha, and Nathan did not contribute directly to the text of scripture, but were instead subjects of scripture. The period known as the “period of the prophets” was between the times of Solomon and Alexander even though God has used prophets before and since. This period is called the period of the prophets because this is when the books of the Major and Minor Prophets were written.

It’s a dark scene shrouded by shadows and begging for sunlight. Two men wrestle until dawn breaks. But this fight isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. And the setting mirrors our own soulful struggles sorted out in the debt of night.

[This is a blog post I wrote that originally appeared in Manna Express Online, a magazine written by the Christian diaspora.]

The freshness of the New Year is a reminder that God lavishes us with life, provision, and new mercies. At the time of the Exodus, Yahweh told the people of Israel to pick up just enough manna each day for their households, six days a week. He gave enough for every day--no need to worry, no need to hoard, no need to gorge.

With 2011 now about a month behind us, we can look back with a bit of perspective on what some of the last year’s top ten stories (according to non-scientific ranking) revealed to us, taught us, or reminded us:

I have been thinking some about leadership lately. When you start to approach senior age in status and function, you give some thought to what you model and how you lead others, especially those younger than you. 

A dare, there’s something about a dare that captures our attention. A dare “to live fully right where you are” challenged, convicted and encouraged me this week. Ann Voscamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, a gift from a friend at Christmas, suggested a dare I’d like to take and challenge you as well.

“A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39, NASB).

Welcome to World Religions class, already in progress:

“No sex before marriage? In top-down religion, the rule is already decided for you,” said Professor Yu,[1] “but in eastern tradition and other religions you work to figure it all out for yourself. No sex before marriage? Try it…” he said the last line with a laugh as if he was only joking. “God says, ‘No sex before marriage’? How do you know what’s best until you try it for yourself?”

“What wonderful advice,” I thought to myself. (Yes, even in my own head I can be sarcastic.) I thought about saying, “Would you say that regarding suicide?” but I bit my tongue. I could have been a wise-acre, done my best imitation of him, and said, “God says, ‘Don’t murder. Do not rape.’ How do you know what’s best unless you try it for yourself?”[2]

The digital age is here to stay, regardless of how much whining goes on about the loss of face-to-face relationships or meaningful dinner conversations.  We are moving from a print era to a digital era, with accompanying losses and gains. We stand, like the last of the Mohicans, overlooking a time that soon will be no more, as we move into the unknown. Exciting and terrifying!

John’s Revelations

The book of Revelations is John’s written record of a series of prophetic visions. The first three chapters read as a series of messages to specific churches, but also seem to be prophetic descriptions of various ages of the church.

For the past year or so God has had my attention and has been calling me to be more attentive. Whether this is for those I serve in ministry, my family, myself, whoever, God has called me to many times and places of being attentive and sitting with Him. Here is just an initial thought on attentiveness.

“Do you have any wisdom or advice as to how best to approach my season of singleness and the struggle I’m facing?”  Gulp. The email from a college friend detailed how rent she felt between the desire to be content in her singleness and her fervent prayers for a husband.  I punched “reply,” but the cursor just kept blinking.  One week later I finally typed, “I honestly don’t feel like I have any magical answers, but I’d love to share with you some of the things that God taught me along the way.

Tis the season to be...cold or warm? If you live in the northern hemisphere during the month of January you will probably experience cooler temperatures, shorter days, longer nights, snow, sleet, ice, dormant trees and brown grass, and fewer animals roaming around in your backyard.

     When faced with a decision do you find yourself reciting a list of reasons why you should or shouldn't?  A rap sheet of circumstances that have maybe always been present but suddenly incapacitate ones ability to continue? To plead your case before a jury of your peers with an exhaustive yet highly impressive list of reasons, excuses, and circumstances?

I like Dr. Phil (McGraw), the host of one of TV’s top-rated daytime programs, but it’s essential to keep a biblical discernment filter in place when watching his show. Last week I winced to see that his producers had talked him into bringing a couple of self-proclaimed psychics onto the program. Dr. Phil calls himself “a skeptic but not a cynic,” and he took the bait.

We know them as the Ten Commandments or Law of Moses, those ancient decrees that even some Christians consider obsolete (Exodus 20:3-17)**. However, Jesus did not say that He came to do away with the Ten Commandments or Law but rather to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-19. Luke 16:16,17). That is, Jesus did give us new commandments; however, He never abolished the old ones (John 13:34,35. Romans 3:30,31). Rather He raised them from a matter of external physical compliance to a matter of internal spiritual compliance that included the thoughts and intents of our spiritual hearts (Matthew 5:27,28). Furthermore, He did what the Law failed to do for man - He provided a way back into a personal relationship with God the Father* (Galatians 3:11. John 14:6. 1 John 2:23).

I’ve wanted to like Romney because the conventional wisdom says he is the only Republican candidate who can beat Obama. And then I’ve pictured legions of Mormon missionaries all over the world pointing to the President of the United States for validation of their appeals to believe the Book of Mormon and join the church of Latter Day Saints.

I’ve wanted to like Newt Gingrich because he has a beautiful mind and gravitas and carefully thought out policies and commentary on world events. And besides, I have a really good snapshot of the two of us in the Columbia Marriott lobby.

Introduction

The book of Hebrews is one of my favorites in the New Testament. There is considerable debate as to the identity of the author, but as far as I’m concerned there’s no doubt it is the inspired word of God. The book was written primarily to the Jewish believers. It holds many nuanced references aimed to reach out to Jews. Even so, its truths transcend the Hebrew people and benefit all Christ believers, be they Jew or Gentile. In the first chapter the position and role of Jesus Christ is identified, as are angels and man relative to Jesus.

On Sunday my husband and I celebrated forty years of marriage. Although the years have brought ups and downs, even serious problems along the way, God kept us together by his grace. Despite my desire to leave more than once, I didn’t.

Through the years God taught me some valuable lessons from my own experiences and my observations of other marriages. Because of its foundational nature, I don’t list personal spiritual growth and dependence upon God for grace to give your spouse, but it is the key to implementing the five lessons below.

I often am asked about the work and views of N. T. Wright. Whether it is on Paul or Christianity in general, Jesus, or the resurrection, this British scholar has made his mark in the public square. What is hard for people is to take the time to read him, since much of what he has written appears in tomes of significant size.

The pastor and worship team at my church were used of God in crafting a service that reflected on the power of prayer to the God who never slumbers. Our text was Acts 21:1-14. In those verses, Paul is movin’ along on his missionary journey, Jerusalem-bound and the Spirit is moving in the people he meets, sending a recurring message: “nothing good awaits you in Jerusalem.”

This news is understandably distressing to the people who love Paul. Paul responds by saying, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

My pastor’s first proposition was to “resign” yourself to the will of God. Not “submit” or “surrender,” or some more spiritual word that doesn’t imply wearily and reluctantly giving up. 

Did you see the Youtube video, “Riley on Marketing” that went viral? Diane Sawyer later interviewed little Riley, who ranted right in the middle of the toy store about how little girls like her get relegated to only pink princess toys while boys get all the other colors—and only the boys get to be superheroes.

Communication proves to be one of life’s greatest ongoing challenges, especially to those who desire to teach and lead others. When I try to share my perspective and thoughts with someone else all too frequently it is not clear. My assumptions affect my words and the assumptions of those to whom I am speaking or writing affect how they interpret my words.

About the Gospel of John

The book of John is probably my favorite book of the bible and definitely my favorite Gospel account. The other Gospels provide excellent detailed accounts of the life of the man, Jesus Christ. John puts far more emphasis on the deity of Jesus. John was known as the one loved by Jesus. Of all the apostles, he alone stood with Jesus’ mother at the cross and held her while he died. John was the only apostle to live into old age and he was the one who received and recorded the visions we in the book of Revelation.

For the past few years I have had a “theme” for the year. Sometimes it’s a word, sometimes a phrase. Sometimes it comes at the beginning of the year and sometimes it comes at the end of the year.

A few days before 2012 began a fairly random thought invaded my mind. What would my life be like without the indwelling Holy Spirit? As I followed the progression of this thought, here is what happened. I began to wonder how entering the New Year would be impacted by this reality – no Holy Spirit.

I would be operating totally on my own resources.

“You’ve Lost Your Muchness...” 

          In the new rendition of Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), told Alice (Mia Wasikowska) that she had, “lost her muchness.” She was, “much muchier before.”  I love that phrase. I know this movie has been out for a while but I still think of these lines from time to time and can’t shake the teachable point to this poignant phrase.

Disneyland has long positioned itself as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” And Disney goes to great lengths to maintain that illusion. Their parks are as close to spotless as you can get; you never see wrappers, gum or spilled popcorn on the ground, since they get swept up within a minute of hitting the pavement by an army of “cast members,” from custodians to ride workers, who are devoted to maintaining the fantasy. Every Disney park cast member is trained to be assertively friendly in making things right and keeping people happy. When a friend’s child lost the ice cream scoop from his cone, within moments a Disney person replaced it for free. 

I am referring to God's Covenant Implementing Angels (CIA). Realize, long before man was created on Earth, God created millions of beings called angels to serve Him (Job 38:4-7. stars = angels in Revelation 1:20. Revelation 5:11). Unfortunately, one of the ruling angels or archangels called Lucifer led a rebellion* with one third of the other angels following him (Revelation 12:4). Nevertheless, they were quickly defeated, their authority (but not power) removed and they were cast out of Heaven (Luke 10:18). Today we know the Archangel Lucifer by the name of Satan (Satan means the adversary or accuser of the brethren - Revelation 12:10).

“The Prince of America has had his fill of milk and honey. Imagines the universe as his star spangled playground. He was given authority over shopping malls and the church of commerce. And we of the laity, we sing “Glory be,” we sing, “Alleluia…oh…we’re gonna last forever.”—Zach Arrington, “Prince of America”

The five large canvases circle an intimate room in Columbia’s Museum of Art. Over Christmas my son Zach, Jack and I stood in the middle and turned slowly around. The unfolding drama of the rise, decline and fall of a great civilization plays out against the same scenic backdrop. Thomas Cole’s Course of Empire series trumpets a warning. Like the charioteer charged with whispering regularly in Caesar’s ear, “All glory is fleeting,” these canvases illustrate the inescapable trajectory of every empire under the sun. The viewer is compelled to consider…Will it last forever? Or…in which painting are we now?”

Parables of Luke 14

Throughout the chapter Jesus speaks in parables. In the first parable (vv 1-6) Jesus questions the religious leaders about doing good deeds on the Sabbath. The parable of the wedding feast (vv 7-11) is the first of two that use different feast scenarios to illustrate heaven. In this one Jesus shows the importance of humility. The parable of the great banquet (vv 12-24) is really two parables in one. First Jesus says plainly why we should do good deeds that cannot be repaid by friends and family. In the second part he indicates that entry to heaven requires a person choose to be there, but also that the person can’t sneak or buy their way in.